National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

"The organization behind us is called the Dark Holy See.

We’ve always upheld the philosophy that extremes beget their opposites, hence our name, ’Dark.’

We firmly believe that absolute light will inevitably follow extreme darkness."

As Hand-Head spoke of his background, a proud, almost arrogant, expression spread across his face.

He looked as though their Dark Holy See was the sole ruler of this world, capable of controlling the fate of all creation.

"What region is your faction from?"

Chu He showed little surprise. After all, in these turbulent times,

all sorts of bizarre organizations, their alignments hard to discern, were springing up like mushrooms after a rainstorm.

The state of the world had already become complex and volatile, like a massive, chaotic chessboard.

"Our organization isn’t defined by regional boundaries."

Hand-Head puffed out his chest, his tone tinged with smugness,

as if showing off how different and transcendent the Dark Holy See was. "If you’re truly unwilling, we will withdraw from the Great Xia Empire immediately."

"After harming so many innocent people, you think you can come and go as you please?

What do you take the Great Xia Empire for? A land of ants to be trampled at will?"

The corners of Chu He’s mouth lifted slightly into a contemptuous smile.

It was a smile filled with disdain for the Dark Holy See; they were nothing more than pathetic clowns, not even worth his notice.

"Mr. Chu, are you intending to make a true enemy of our Dark Holy See?"

Hand-Head’s voice trembled slightly, his eyes betraying a hint of nervousness and anxiety, as though he feared Chu He’s response.

"Become my enemy? Is the Dark Holy See even worthy?"

Chu He’s aura was now completely different, as if he were a changed man. He radiated an arrogance that looked down on all creation.

And yet, he spoke with exceptional calm.

His tranquil tone made the outrageously arrogant words sound like an indisputable fact,

one that carried absolute authority.

Everyone present was involuntarily overwhelmed by his presence,

and deep down, they found themselves believing his every word.

Even the two strange beings from the Dark Holy See

felt an immense oppressive force in that moment, and a flicker of fear crept into their hearts.

"Is that so?"

The corners of Hand-Head’s mouth slowly turned down.

A bone-chillingly cold and indifferent aura radiated from him like a tide,

instantly enveloping the surrounding area.

He then slowly extended his two burly arms,

grasping at the empty air before him as though skillfully working an invisible ball of dough,

kneading and pulling it, as if to seize control of the entire world.

At the same time, the five massive fingers on his hand-shaped head synched up, performing the exact same actions.

It was bizarre in the extreme.

Immediately after,

his two hands and his entire hand-shaped head began to turn a deep, murky purple.

The color was like a dense, dark fog, and it continued to spread.

An invisible Mysterious Power, like a surging undercurrent, began to silently permeate the entire mountain forest.

Everyone keenly sensed that something was off about the air,

but they felt as though they were lost in a fog,

unable to locate the source of this power. All they could do was wait in fear and unease for whatever was to come.

But Chu He acted as if he hadn’t seen or heard a thing. He simply waved a hand gently behind him.

In that instant, golden flames, like nimble sprites,

materialized in the air without warning.

The flames leaped and flickered, radiating a scorching, sacred light, as if they were the very embodiment of justice.

Just as darkness and evil threatened to run rampant, the flames stepped forth, becoming the final barrier to protect the people.

As if guided by some mysterious force, the golden flames

rapidly changed shape, unfurling with the grace of living, golden silk ribbons,

and instantly yet steadily enveloped all the young men and women present.

This sudden turn of events frightened many of the young men and women into crying out in terror.

Their bodies reacted on instinct, and they subconsciously started to fall back in a panic.

After all, the terrifying heat contained within those golden flames earlier—

they had all seen it with their own eyes, and the memory was still fresh.

That dreadful power, capable of turning anything to ash in an instant, had left them with a lingering fear.

Soon, however, they were overjoyed to discover that the golden flames were not meant to harm them.

Instead, like a loyal guardian,

the flames had silently formed a golden barrier that radiated a gentle light around them.

Even more strangely, the barrier did not emit even the slightest trace of fearsome heat.

It simply emanated a quiet, reassuring aura,

as if telling everyone that as long as it was there, they would be safe.

An unprecedented and astonishing scene unfolded spectacularly in the sky above Xia Shui Village.

The sheer scale of the spectacle, its majestic momentum,

left all the villagers present utterly dumbfounded.

An unparalleled sense of fear and shock welled up uncontrollably in their hearts.

A dazzling sea of golden fire materialized out of thin air.

Like a meteor streaking across the heavens, its light blazed with infinite heat and majesty as it tore through the night sky, instantly forming an indestructible barrier.

It mercilessly sealed away the fear and despair that had permeated the night.

This barrier, a sea of golden fire, was like a pane of crystal-clear, golden glass.

It not only shimmered with a dazzling, mesmerizing light but also possessed an extraordinary resilience, capable of withstanding the assault of any evil power in the world.

Then, upon the surface of this very barrier, purple-black hands suddenly began to appear, one after another, like silent phantoms.